Airline passengers now arrive at the airport prepared to be nickeled and dimed all the way to their destination by add-on fees — a moneymaking tool no longer used only by low-cost carriers but by nearly every type of airline, a new study reveals.

Total airline revenue generated by these extra fees, called ancillary fees, skyrocketed from $2.45 billion in 2007 to $27.1 billion in 2012. United Airlines topped the list of total ancillary-revenue leaders, generating more than $5.3 billion in fees last year.

That may not come as a surprise considering it is the world's largest carrier, but the other two key indicators measured in the study — percentage of total revenue that comes from ancillary fees and average dollar amount each passenger spent on additional fees — provide more context on the 53 airlines now reporting ancillary fees in their earnings.

United — the largest carrier at Denver International Airport, with 40 percent of the market share — received more than 14 percent of its revenue from ancillary fees, and its average passenger spends an additional $38.11 in fees. Compare that with Denver-based carrier Frontier Airlines' 10.4 percent and $13.96 per passenger, respectively.

The study, by Wisconsin-based IdeaWorks Co., highlights that beverage and baggage fees such as those implemented by Frontier are a few ancillary examples but are by no means a complete picture of this burgeoning airline-revenue stream.

IdeaWorks defines "ancillary" as revenue beyond the sale of tickets, typically falling into one of four categories: frequent-flier activities, a la carte features, commission-based products and advertising sold by the airline.

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The third of Denver's big three carriers, Southwest Airlines, reaped $161 million in ancillary revenue from its EarlyBird boarding option in 2012. Southwest saw 9.7 percent of its total revenue come from ancillary fees in 2012, and its average passenger paid $12.35 in extras.

While United and Southwest charge for additional services, their fees are often perceived as convenience- and comfort-added amenities, such as early boarding, premium food service and extra legroom.

"There are two types of a la carte fees — one is a 'happy fee' and one is an unbundling fee," said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks.

Frontier is taking more of the unbundling approach, which essentially pulls apart several of the amenities — such as carry-ons and in-flight beverages — previously included in the base fare.

Sorensen notes that Frontier's financial filings were not as forthright about its ancillary fees and predicts that the carrier, with its recently implemented changes to its fee structure, is probably closer to 17 percent "based on their ancillary profile."

The study, titled the CarTrawler Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue, forecasts that many airlines will continue developing and refining ancillary revenue streams for the foreseeable future.

"These fees have been implemented very quickly, and (the airlines) are realizing money that the airlines are pocketing," Sorensen said. "But as soon as people plunk down money for their services, they expect an improved product, and that's what is still missing from most of the airlines."

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